Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-30

next day CrOCiissa was ulSpatchCd 10 san
Marcollo with her lace, and a note to $40
landlord of the hotel whore Mrs. Wcb-tcr
was staying. In three hours CrHciliSsa re
turned, jubilGnt, because the aldiord mad
promised TO show the lace to all Tie guests in
his house likely to be !.,.,rcstei in such
things
We scarcely dared to break to Crocfssa
the good news that camo three days later
Mrs Webster had fallen in love with the
lace rs Amy had predicted, and at the laud-
lords suggestion had promised TO pay 80
francs for the piece on her departure,
month later. In the meantime it might re-
main upon exhibition behind the glass doors
of tho padroncs cabinet of Culiusitics. 1t
made one feel young and happy again to see
the bliss of Crocifissa and Reno. The latter
was presented to us and the good fellow
seemed reaely to risk his life to serve us.
, Amy might ride on the fruit donkey at any
hour of the day or night she chose and it was
borne in upon me that particularly glaring
pair of magenta stockings in process of con-
struction by Crocifssa was for me.
The fortune of the betrothed couple being
now secured, negotiations were entered upon
/ for the desired outfit of clothes and the neccs-
sary furniture. A charming pair of rooms,
in CrocifiSSas eyes, were beSpoken, at the
back of the carpenters house, and the we'd
ding day was set early in October. All was
going merry as the anticipated marriage
bells, when the day arrived for Crocifissa to
go to San Marcello and receive her money.
On her first visit she had seen only the
padronc, and was about to be given the price
of her lace and dismissed at once by him,
when, on second thought, he decided to de-
tain her.
hoI hotto nd mi hn 1oIN
her kindness, yourself" he said; sit looks
more civil"
Crocfissa was shown into Mrs. WebSter's
room, marvel Of ornamentation from all
parts of tho globe, and of various centuries
more or less authentic. Mrs. Webster had,
as Amy had maintained, an idoatrous fond
ness for all things antique; hideous jug
with crack upon its dirt ingrained sides
was lovelier in her eyes than the most skill
fully worked vase of modern times. She
willingly paid fabulous prices for rubbish Of
a bygono day, but was impacable if she dis
covered fraud in the dates of apparently an
tique treasures.
In very bad Italian, she addressed Corci-
fissa, who, not understanding, replied in a
few words, which the elder lady also failed to
catch. The interview being rather a trying
one for both parties, Mrs. Webster was about
to end it by dismiSsing CrocifisSa, when the
girls next words, understood this time, alas
all too plainly, riveted her attention
"What did you say" she exclaimed, a
spark Of something like anger glowing in her
eyes.
"If the signora would like some narrow
lace of the same pattern, would try to make
it. My eyes are better now than when | did
that wide piece" repeated CrocifsSa.
"Do you mean to say that you made this
piece of lace'" said Mrs. Webster, with sup
|, pressed rage.
"YcS signora; why notl'
| Crocifissa regarded the now Infatuated lady
} with blank ama2ement; she had expected
| praise for her handiwork, instead of thes,
flaming eyes bent angrily upon her
Mrs Webster rang the bell with sharp VIC
lencc and demanded the instant presence O
, the padrone. GLOW dare you,n she cried a
| he appeared, "try to cheat me so outrage
\ ou.ly"
! The padrone mystifed as was Crocifiss;
at the lady's excitement, stared at her il
> helpless silence. Presently he found voic
I enough to falter 81 do not understand; will
5 the signora please to explain1"
"Gou finished rascal, you know very wei
what mean! You showed me this lace
| letting me believe it was old, and now thi
7 girl-she is innocent enough-confesses tina
she made it herself. What have you to sa,
: for yourself, sir.n
"Dio miol Why-I thought-but it is old
l ignora-behold, it is quite dirty | feare,
3 the signora would desire fresher piece, AM
, my heart was light when she seemed to wis
to have it Old. The sgnora did not mento
how old it must be, hence this misundel
standing, which regret deeply.n
, If occasionally tempted into falsehood, lik
the most of his kind, the padrone ON this oc
r casion spoke the truth, He was a simple fe
low, ignorant of the craze of the elegan
. world for antiquities; he had not trouble
1 himself to inquire the history of Crociissa
lace, but had satisfied his conscience by ask
ing its value of an old woman of the village
b an authority in such matters.
But the irate Mrs Webster was not to b
U appeased The padrone had tried to chea
J her as cgregiously as any hardened rogue i
s the lowest Of junk shops. Here to Croc
fissa, 'take your lace; | have changed IN
: mind, and will not have it - and She tosse
5 the dainty work into Il BASKET on the girl
arm
But, signoran cried the poor child, burs
= jry into tears, and extending both hands in
y ploringly
y Leave the room at once, both of you
J. said Mrs. Webster, callously. Il cannot hay
!, scene here. The way of the transgressor
o hard, you know, and you must take the COZ
. sequences of your evil deeds"
Poor CrOcifissa! how she retraced her tire
u steps to Piatico, empty handed, with tho III
L lucky lace in her basket she never knew
i Tho situation was really deplorable-all II
II accessories for their humble housckeepin
almost in their possession, the rooms e
. gagged, and not a franc to pay for anything
The little community was loud in its expire
l. sions of rage at the inhuman woman WI
IT had so deceived Crocifissa, but this mendt
% matters not at all
A day or two later Reno sought us on
10 despair on his handsome face. CrociiiSsa w
ill., of grief only, but SO low and miserab
. that Reno feared the worst. The poor 81
was really in pitiable state and after OF
u visit to the hove where she lived Amy and
VI declared we would not see another sunset b
IL fore we had tried to set on foot some probe